Amherst Police: Abused 3-year-old died from blunt force trauma

Amherst Police are investigating the suspicious death of a young girl who was found unresponsive this past weekend in an apartment on Allenhurst Road.

Police responded to a call of a child not breathing around 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 18. Mayouna Smith, 3, was taken to ECMC, where she was pronounced dead.

Amherst Police are investigating the death of a young girl.

Credit Chris Caya/WBFO News

An autopsy revealed the child suffered from blunt force trauma. There are also indications she was subjected to physical and sexual abuse prior to her death.

The girl's mother, her boyfriend, and a 1-year-old boy were in the apartment when police arrived. Police are not releasing their names.

Assistant Police Chief Charles Cohen says no arrests have been made at this point. The mother was interviewed. Cohen says the boyfriend invoked his right to counsel when police attempted to interview him on Sunday night.

"Obviously we have theories that we're pursuing, but until we can develop probable cause to make an arrest, there's not much else we can do. We're following up leads and talking to everybody that we can talk to," Cohen said at a late morning news briefing.

Cohen says the boy is with other family members. Child Protective Services has been notified. He says it's the department's first dealing with the home.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Amherst Police at (716) 689-1360.